A new book detailing the history and success of Kerry Co-op, from 1974 to 2025, was officially launched recently.
The book, which was commissioned by Kerry Co-op and written by Currow native and author Con Dennehy, includes many current and former Kerry Co-op directors, farmers, employees and management.
Kerry Co-op, The Heart of Who we Are, was launched in Tralee by founder, chief executive and, until 2003, chair of Kerry Group, Denis Brosnan, as part of Kerry Co-op’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Kerry Co-op
According to the book’s author, Con Dennehy, the success and growth of Kerry Co-op is “one of the most phenomenal business stories Ireland has witnessed over the past five decades”.
“In this book, I am inviting the reader to savour a front seat view of the Kerry Co-op journey from the early 1970s to the present day as I paint a fabric that becomes the tapestry of Kerry Co-op.
“Their journey is one that was demanding, physical, emotional and in many ways spiritual as they overcame obstacles and challenges in their quest to make the life of farm families more enriched, economically viable and a future that was bright and sustainable,” he said.
Dennehy said that writing the book gave him the opportunity to study the business and paint a portrait of the people from Kerry, Clare, Limerick and parts of Cork who contributed to its success.
He added that the publication highlights the timelines throughout the decades through annual reports from 1975 to 2024, newspaper and media reports and a synopsis of each year dating back to the early 1970s.
Book
The new book runs to almost 500 pages and features almost 260 photographs and 45 interviews of various founders, directors, board personnel, farmers and employees of Kerry Co-op in Kerry, Limerick, Clare, south Galway and north Cork.
Dennehy said that the first section of the book is dedicated to the original founders of Kerry Co-op giving the readers an insight into “the pioneering spirit and vision of these charismatic leaders”.
The book will be available at all the 31 Kerry Agri and Home Stores and bookshops later this month.